But. He must not live.

Gor.

And you can do the deed!

But. Either you or I. This morning was his last.

Gor. You would assassinate him?

But.

'Tis my purpose.

Gor. Who leans with his whole confidence upon you!

But. Such is his evil destiny!

Gor.

Your General!

The sacred person of your General!

But. My General he has been.

Gor.

That 'tis only

An "has been" washes out no villany.

And without judgment pass'd?

But.

The execution

This were murder,

Is here instead of judgment.

Gor.

Not justice. The most guilty should be heard.

But. His guilt is clear, the Emperor has past judgment, And we but execute his will.

Gor.

We should not

Hurry to realize a bloody sentence.

A word may be recall'd, a life can never be.

But. Despatch in service pleases sovereigns.

Gor. No honest man's ambitious to press forward To the hangman's service.

But.

And no brave man loses

His colour at a daring enterprise.

Gor. A brave man hazards life, but not his conscience. But. What then? Shall he go forth anew to kindle

The unextinguishable flame of war?

Gor. Seize him, and hold him prisoner-do not kill

him!

But. Had not the Emperor's army been defeated,

I might have done so -But 'tis now past by.

Gor. O, wherefore open'd I the strong hold to him? But. His destiny, and not the place, destroys him. Gor. Upon these ramparts, as beseem'd a soldier, I had fallen, defending the Emperor's citadel!

But. Yes! and a thousand gallant men have perish'd. Gor. Doing their duty-that adorns the man!

But murder's a black deed, and nature curses it.

But. (brings out a paper) Here is the manifesto which commands us

To gain possession of his person.

See

It is address'd to you as well as me.
Are you content to take the consequences,
If thro' our fault he escape to the enemy.
Gor. I?-Gracious God!

But.

Come of it what it may, on you I lay it.
Gor. O God in Heaven!

But.

Take it on yourself.

Can you advise ought else

Wherewith to execute the Emperor's purpose?
Say, if you can. For I desire his fall,

Not his destruction.

Gor.

Merciful Heaven! what must be,

I see as clear as you. Yet still the heart
Within my bosom beats with other feelings!

But. Mine is of harder stuff! Necessity

In her rough school hath steel'd me. And this Illo,
And Tertsky likewise, they must not survive him.
Gor. I feel no pang for these. Their own bad heart
Impell'd them, not the influence of the stars.
'Twas they who strew'd the seeds of evil passions
In his calm breast, and with officious villany
Water'd and nurs'd the pois'nous plants. May they
Receive their earnests to the uttermost mite!

But. And their death shall precede his!

We meant to have taken them alive this evening
Amid the merry-making of a feast,

And keep them prisoners in the citadel.

Rut this makes shorter work. I go this instant
To give the necessary orders.

SCENE VII.

To these enter Illo and Tertsky.

Ter. Our luck is on the turn.

To-morrow come

The Swedes-twelve thousand gallant warriors, Illo!
Then straightway for Vienna. Cheerily, friend!
What! meet such news with such a moody face?

Illo. It lies with us at present to prescribe

Laws, and take vengeance on those worthless traitors,
Those skulking cowards that deserted us;

One has already done his bitter penance,

The Piccolomini, be his the fate

Of all who wish us evil! This flies sure

To the old man's heart; he has, his whole life long,

Fretted and toil'd to raise his ancient house
From a Count's title to the name of Prince;
And now must seek a grave for his only son.

But. 'Twas pity tho'! A youth of such heroic
And gentle temp'rament! The Duke himself,
'Twas easily seen, how near it went to his heart.
Illo. Hark'e, old friend! That is the very point
That never pleas'd me in our General-

He ever gave the preference to the Italians.

1

Yea, at this very moment, by my soul!

He'd gladly see us all dead ten times over,

Could he thereby recal his friend to life.

Ter. Hush, hush! Let the dead rest! This evening's business

Is, who can fairly drink the other down-
Your regiment, Illo, gives the entertainment.
Come! we will keep a merry carnival—
The night for once be day, and mid full glasses
Will we expect the Swedish avantgarde.

Illo. Yes, let us be of good cheer for to-day,
For there's hot work before us, friends! This sword
Shall have no rest, till it be bath'd to the hilt

From this first victory. Bethink you, sirs!

How rapidly the wheel of fortune turns.
The Emperor still is formidably strong.

Illo. The Emperor has soldiers, no commander,
For this King Ferdinand of Hungary
Is but a tyro. Galas? He's no luck,
And was of old the ruiner of armies.
And then this viper, this Octavio,
Is excellent at stabbing in the back,

But ne'er meets Friedland in the open field.

Ter. Trust me, my friends, it cannot but succeed; Fortune, we know can ne'er forsake the Duke!

And only under Wallenstein can Austria

Be conqueror.

Illo.

The Duke will soon assemble

A mighty army, all comes crowding, streaming

To banners, dedicate by destiny

To fame and prosperous fortune. I behold
Old times come back again, he will become
Once more the mighty lord which he has been.
How will the fools, who've now deserted him,
Look then? I can't but laugh to think of them;
For lands will he present to all his friends;

And like a king and emperor reward

True services; but we've the nearest claims. (To Gordon.)

You will not be forgotten, Governor!

He'll take you from this nest and bid you shine
In higher station: your fidelity

Well merits it.

Gor.

I am content already,

And wish to climb no higher; where great height is, The fall must needs be great. "Great height, great depth."

Illo. Here you have no more business for to-morrow; The Swedes will take possession of the citadel.

Come, Tertsky, it is supper-time. What think you?
Say, shall we have the state illuminated

In honour of the Swede? And who refuses

To do it is a Spaniard and a traitor.

Ter. Nay, Nay! not that, it will not please the DukeIllo. What! we are masters here; no soul shall dare

Avow himself imperial where we've the rule.

Gordon! Good night, and, for the last time, take

A fair leave of the place. Send out patroles

To make secure; the watchword may be alter'd
At the stroke of ten; deliver in the keys

To the Duke himself, and then you're quit for ever
Your wardship of the gates, for on to-morrow
The Swedes will take possession of the citadel.